I don't usually run on a Sunday (for various reasons, the main one being the need to unwind after the week and to prepare for the following one) and had to take on the second run of week seven. This is a 25 minute run (which I had completed twice before - W6R3 and W7R1 - with some difficulty, but also a degree of enjoyment and a feeling of accomplishment). I did manage it today but my pace was slower than it has been in my previous attempts and I therefore covered less ground. It was a struggle from the first step and at the end I felt defeated and disappointed in myself, like the stamina I had been building up over the last 7 weeks had deserted me. As I write this now, I still feel a little dejected. This is the first time throughout the programme where I returned home with the feeling that I hadn't done as well as I could have done.
Perhaps Sunday running just psychologically isn't for me. I had to run today because it won't be possible to run on Monday due to various commitments. I fully intend to carry on with the programme (it would be silly to give in, having come so far) but I was wondering if other members have 'bad runs' and how they motivate themselves to press on with the programme?
And bananas are a RUBBISH comfort food after such a run!!
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driver08uk
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That part about bananas after a run is possibly true, although I have seen runners eating them after a HM Trail run. All of us here on C25K have had some bad runs during the 9 weeks of C25K, I remember that the bad run for me was the last run of week 3, it took me to the second run of week 4 to get as they say here 'get my mojo working' again. So perhaps give yourself two days off before the next run of week 7. Drink plenty of water the day before you run, also do some exercise as well. 😊 Good luck for your final run of week 7.
Yeah, if you must have a banana after that kind of run then mix it with chocolate spread and have it as a toastie 😄
All of us have runs that don’t go so well, and if you can work out why, it’ll help for future runs. Sounds to me like you had a lot on your mind today - that can make a huge difference, even when you’re not consciously thinking about it. Sleep, food, hydration, temperature, weather, ground conditions, health - all kinds of things can impact on performance.
So don’t kick yourself. You got out, and you achieved the run. Be proud of you ! x
Hmmm... you feel defeated, but you weren’t... maybe you need to go easier on yourself?
Covering less ground can be fun... it’s not about distance or pace... try not to focus on it. My favourite runs are the ones where I don’t go with a pace or distance target... I just run, nice and slowly, loving every moment. I can go and attempt, possibly set, a 5k PB tomorrow... and seeing that time will be great... but in the moment of actually running it, no, I won’t love it.
To answer your question directly... yes, sometimes I go out there and it sucks... It feels awful... I want to stop... nothing about the run makes me smile... until that moment that it’s over... right then I can look back at it and be very proud that I’m mentally tough enough to be over that finish line... for me that’s as big an achievement as crossing the line grinning.
Like everything else in life, some runs are better than others... nothing we can do about that... but what we can do is celebrate the fact we can now get to the end and know it sucked... not long ago we weren’t capable of that run.
Good runs, bad runs... embrace them all.
After a run that sucks there normally follows a really smooth one... enjoy.
Haha 🍌 made me laugh out loud! Yes you need something else, maybe a good run next time. I had a run like that where you do it and feel low about it. It’s quite common I believe. Sometimes the conditions are not all there to make you enjoy it and it’s probably linked to a multitude of factors.
What helped me last time was this forum and the amazing support and encouragement. You’ve done amazing progress since you started the programme, think back on how you felt when you started; could you have imagined running for 25 minutes, probably not! I mean it’s great! What an achievement!
Next run will be fine. Dont worry about this one and just get out again and you will like it, I’m sure of it
So, not to be unsympathetic, but I think if you got to W7r2 before you had what I call a Groaner, you’ve done pretty well! I’m no better than the rest at figuring out what causes them, but they sure do roll around. Be glad it’s behind you and almost certainly it will be a one-off. Or, of course, you may be down with flu tomorrow and then you’ll know why you felt bad. 😂 Seriously, fingers crossed, after a couple of rest days, normal service will be resumed. Good luck. 👍
Thanks everyone for the encouragement. The people here are so genuine and it's great to feel such support from members who have shared similar experiences. My mind is on W7R3 now. I know I can do it, but my mindset is more positive now!!
Oooh yes, several bad runs over here! I did manage to scrape through them, rather like you, but felt demoralised afterwards. Then other days you run and realise you ran your best time and felt great doing it. I’m not sure what the magic formula is - although for me, running deliberately slowly for the first 10 minutes goes a long way towards making the entire run more pleasant. Even after the very worst run, though, the low feeling did pass and I didn’t regret having got out there and done it. I think of them now as mental strength training! Onwards and upwards, take it slow and hopefully the next run, or he one after, will be one of the ‘greats’ 🙂
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Only 7 runs to go!!!! W7R2 
Week 5, Run 1 - just done
W7R2 ticked off
W7R2
